I didn't write yesterday, other than maybe 250 words in my journal. I am good with that because the first two days gave me my next substack post, and the reason I didn't write was because I met up with my cousin and her twin girls to go skiing/snowboarding last minute! I haven't seen them in over a year and it was a fab day.
Yesterday I spent my time revising a piece I've been working on, and it's interesting to ask myself whether sometimes revising is a way of hesitating.
I find that sometimes I'm choosing to revise a piece because the revision process feels generative. It's like playing a piece of music I'm practicing and exploring what it's like to place the emphasis here and not there, to draw out this not and not that one.
On the other hand, sometimes I find I'm revising because I'm afraid of saying what I'm really saying, I'm setting an impossibly high bar for how well-researched or argued a short piece really needs to be, or I'm avoiding doing something else that needs to be done.
I'm curious to hear from others how they work with the notion of "not hesitating" when it comes to doing their most important work. When do you spin your wheels because it's the only way you can go forward, and when do you spin your wheels as a way of subconsciously NOT going forward?
I have been signing up for these 1000 Words since the very first one. I even have the tee-shirt and the book. Woo-hoo! But I haven't been able to do it. But this one has stuck. I bought a special cheap note book and taped a post card with a drawing of a vulture on the back of a cowboy picking out his guts (It somehow seemed appropriate) and I have been writing over 1000 words every day. I even woke up today at 5:30 to make sure I got my words in. I have officially leaned in.
Sorry to bother you but it says I can’t open today’s post because I’m not a paid subscriber. I am a paid subscriber to craft talk. Do I also need to be a paid subscriber to mini 1,000 to access the paid post? Thanks.
1162 words. Each day in this mini, I attempted to write a humorous essay about a recent tragic incident. Didn't quite get the funny, but now I have over 3000 words!
Had to do a final check-in: I wrote past midnight tonight and totaled at 2,576 words for the day—463 of them at the laundromat! Thank you so much for this space for small wins and celebration 🥳🫶🏻
When I put my pencil down this morning, I had 2888 words over the 3 days. I was determined to make it to 3000. Mid-afternoon, I picked it back up to write just a touch of some character development. Made it! 3031. Thanks for the encouragement and structure!
Grateful to have made the goal on this final day of the Mini 1000 (not by much, but enough!)...and grateful for the support and community here, even just for three days.
1021 done today, bringing my 3 day Mini total to 5444!! The whole weekend was spent in this scene/exploring the dynamic of the final meeting between my MC and an abuser from their past as they choose to move forward. Definitely sitting in the impact and whether or not it's important to anyone else, it's important to me. Feeling in the flow and so grateful for this space! Ready to ride this momentum!
2355, in two sessions, to make up for taking yesterday off. In between sessions fell down a research rabbit hole that included watching the complete episode (on YouTube) of CHER (on CBS) that aired 5 October 1975. Priceless. Guests include Mac Davis and LaBelle. Yes, *that* LaBelle.
Fun fact: that was the only year she had the show to herself--after she and Sonny divorced; they started working together again the following year and she cancelled her solo Sunday evening show. On this particular night, in the same time block, Sonny has a guest appearance on The Six Million Dollar Man over on ABC.
794 words so far, have to go into appts, hope to continue after I work. this has been an experience to do three days in a row. it makes me feel more like a writer than someone who goes back and edits their work too much! does anyone do that and fall of of the writing wagon? thank you for the fun, Jami, and all the others here who have grown into a group of 1000 WC per day magicians! cynthia
Basically I have written a six thousand word sex scene with flashbacks as I am still going.
I didn't write yesterday, other than maybe 250 words in my journal. I am good with that because the first two days gave me my next substack post, and the reason I didn't write was because I met up with my cousin and her twin girls to go skiing/snowboarding last minute! I haven't seen them in over a year and it was a fab day.
Yesterday I spent my time revising a piece I've been working on, and it's interesting to ask myself whether sometimes revising is a way of hesitating.
I find that sometimes I'm choosing to revise a piece because the revision process feels generative. It's like playing a piece of music I'm practicing and exploring what it's like to place the emphasis here and not there, to draw out this not and not that one.
On the other hand, sometimes I find I'm revising because I'm afraid of saying what I'm really saying, I'm setting an impossibly high bar for how well-researched or argued a short piece really needs to be, or I'm avoiding doing something else that needs to be done.
I'm curious to hear from others how they work with the notion of "not hesitating" when it comes to doing their most important work. When do you spin your wheels because it's the only way you can go forward, and when do you spin your wheels as a way of subconsciously NOT going forward?
I have been signing up for these 1000 Words since the very first one. I even have the tee-shirt and the book. Woo-hoo! But I haven't been able to do it. But this one has stuck. I bought a special cheap note book and taped a post card with a drawing of a vulture on the back of a cowboy picking out his guts (It somehow seemed appropriate) and I have been writing over 1000 words every day. I even woke up today at 5:30 to make sure I got my words in. I have officially leaned in.
Hey Jamie,
Sorry to bother you but it says I can’t open today’s post because I’m not a paid subscriber. I am a paid subscriber to craft talk. Do I also need to be a paid subscriber to mini 1,000 to access the paid post? Thanks.
1162 words. Each day in this mini, I attempted to write a humorous essay about a recent tragic incident. Didn't quite get the funny, but now I have over 3000 words!
Had to do a final check-in: I wrote past midnight tonight and totaled at 2,576 words for the day—463 of them at the laundromat! Thank you so much for this space for small wins and celebration 🥳🫶🏻
945 words today butttt I finished Chapter 10 over the weekend! Thank you Jami for the time and space, as always.
When I put my pencil down this morning, I had 2888 words over the 3 days. I was determined to make it to 3000. Mid-afternoon, I picked it back up to write just a touch of some character development. Made it! 3031. Thanks for the encouragement and structure!
1040 words. Done. Thank you for the structure that supported these 3 days!
Grateful to have made the goal on this final day of the Mini 1000 (not by much, but enough!)...and grateful for the support and community here, even just for three days.
1021 done today, bringing my 3 day Mini total to 5444!! The whole weekend was spent in this scene/exploring the dynamic of the final meeting between my MC and an abuser from their past as they choose to move forward. Definitely sitting in the impact and whether or not it's important to anyone else, it's important to me. Feeling in the flow and so grateful for this space! Ready to ride this momentum!
2355, in two sessions, to make up for taking yesterday off. In between sessions fell down a research rabbit hole that included watching the complete episode (on YouTube) of CHER (on CBS) that aired 5 October 1975. Priceless. Guests include Mac Davis and LaBelle. Yes, *that* LaBelle.
Fun fact: that was the only year she had the show to herself--after she and Sonny divorced; they started working together again the following year and she cancelled her solo Sunday evening show. On this particular night, in the same time block, Sonny has a guest appearance on The Six Million Dollar Man over on ABC.
Happy Writing!
2097--finished the chapter that I started yesterday. Grateful for this dose of motivation these past few years, hoping they carry me forward!
794 words so far, have to go into appts, hope to continue after I work. this has been an experience to do three days in a row. it makes me feel more like a writer than someone who goes back and edits their work too much! does anyone do that and fall of of the writing wagon? thank you for the fun, Jami, and all the others here who have grown into a group of 1000 WC per day magicians! cynthia
10,000? Are they still active? Where is everybody? (Not that it matters. What you do here and at CT matters at any number, IMHO.) Just curious.